Rotary engine.



G. T. CUNNINGHAM.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION 11,111) IAR. 31, 1911.

Patented Nov. 21,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA I'LANDGRAI'II (n1. WASHINGTON. 111C e. T. CUNNINGHAM.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1911.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS GEORGE T. CUNNINGHAM, OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

Application filed March 31, 1911. Serial No. 618,072.

Y To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Shreveport, Caddo parish, State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rotary Engines, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in rotary engines, and consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical engine of the type specified wherein oppositely arranged blades are provided and wherein the motive fluid is permitted to act upon the blades during 180 of their travel before exhausting, together with a simple and easily adjustable abutment operating mechanism.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of the improvement; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the abutments open; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the abutments closed; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of an abutment.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises an outer casing 1, substantially cylindrical in form, and provided at its bottom wit-h a base 2 having openings 3 for the reception of bolts 4 by means of which the casing may be held to a support, not shown. The inner casing 5 is arranged concentric with the outer casing, but spaced apart therefrom, and the said casing is connected to the outer casing by oppositely arranged inclined webs 6. A shaft 7 is journaled centrally of the casings, and the rotor 8 is secured to the shaft in the inner casing. The rotor is provided with radial vanes or blades 9 extending in opposite directions from the periphery of the rotor, and the side edges of the rotor and the blades are provided with packings 10 for making a steam-tight joint between the rotor and the end walls of the inner casing. A rotatable abutment 11'is journaled in a cylindrical recess 12 near each of the webs 6. Each abutment is substantially cylindrical, and the central portion is cut away on each side at 13 and 13 to form a flattened portion 14 with rounded edges fitting the inner surface of the recess. Each edge is longitudinally recessed at 15 and a packing plate 16 is arranged in the recess and is pressed outwardly by springs 17 seated in the recesses: Each end of the abutment is also provided with a packing ring 18, the ends of the packing plate 16 contacting with the edge of the ring. The portion 13 of the abutment is cut away on an arc having its center at the center of the casing so that the face of the flattened portion 14 is flush with the inner surface of the inner casing. A valve casing 19 is arranged adj acent to each of the abutments and communicates with the adjacent recess 12 by a port 20. A valve plug 21 is rotatable in each casing, andeach valve is provided with a passage 22 for admitting the motive fluid through the port 20 to the recess. A pair of eccentrics 23 and 23 is secured to the shaft 7 atone end, and a sectional collar 2424- is held on each eccentric by bolts 25. Each collar is provided with an arm 2626 re spectively, extending radially from the collar. Levers 27 and 28' are pivoted on a journal pin 29 on the base, and the arm 26 from the collar 24 is pivoted to the lever 27 while the arm 26 of the collar 24 is pivoted to the lever 28. Each of the abutments 11 is provided with a crank arm 30 and links 31 and 32 are connected with the arms of the.

beam. The pin is normally pressed upwardly by a spring 38 which bears at its lower end against the lower bearing 36, and at its upper end against a nut 39 threaded onto the pin. The beam 33 is provided with a lateral journal pin 40, and a socket 41 is provided with a'sectional bearing 42 journaled on the pin. A pin 43 is slidable in the socket and is provided with a collar 44, between which and a nut 45 on the socket is arranged a spring 46 encircling the pin, and normally pressing it downward. The lower end of the pin is beveled at 47 and is en gaged by slides or cam shoes 4848 on the collars 24 and 24 respectively. The levers 2728 act to hold the collars in a relatively fixed position, so far as rotation is concerned, and with the shoes 48 and 48 moving in a definite and predetermined path. It will be evident that the pin will be lifted twice, once by each shoe, during each complete rotation of the shaft. When the walking beam is vibrated by this lifting movement of the pin the abutments are oscillated,

, moves forward.

they will be moved into the position shown in Fig. 2, and will be held in such position by the shoe until the adjacent blade 9 has--- passed beyond the abutment. When the abutments are in the position shown in Fig. 3 the motive fluid is free to enter the inner casing through the valve passage, port 20, and recess 12, and acts against the blade until the'said blade is in position to pass the succeeding abutment. Just as the blade reaches the abutment the exhaust port 49 is uncovered and the motive fluid is permitted to exhaust through the port 49 into the chamber 50 bet-ween the casings and below the webs 6, and from these to the atmosphere. The packing rings and plates make the contact between the rotor and the casing and between the abutment and the recess steam-tight.

In operation, the motive fluid is admitted through the valve plugs 21 and enters through the port 20 into the recess 12 and into the inner casing behind the respective blades. The fluid acts against the blades, driving the rotor in the direction of the arrows, Figs. 2 and 3. As each blade uncovers the adjacent exhaust port 49 the fluid exhausts, and the abutments are turned into the position of Fig. 2, permitting the blades to pass, and momentarily cutting off the motive fluid. As soon as the blades pass the abutments the said abutments are turn ed to close the annular passage between the periphery of the rotor and the inner surface of the casing. The said abutments form a stop for the motive fluid, so that the rotor The cut away portion 13 of the abutments permits the motive fluid to get behind the abutment in the recess to equalize the pressure 011 the abutment.

The valves 21 are operated in any suitable manner to open and close the same. Nhen it is desired to stop the engine, the valve 21 is turned until the port 22 is out of register with the port 20, and when it is desired to start the engine they are turned to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

'I claim:

1. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in the casing, a rotor secured to the shaft in the casing and having oppositely arranged radial blades moving in con tact with the inner surface of the casing, said casing having oppositely arranged exhaust ports and having a recess adjacent to each port, and an inlet port opening into each recess, an abutment in the recess and adapted to close the inlet port in open position and to open the port and to extend across the space between the rotor and the casing in closed position, and means connected with the shaft for simultaneously operating the abutments, said means comprising a plurality of oppositely arranged eccentrics on the shaft, a pair of levers pivoted at one end adjacent to the shaft, a collar on each eccentric having a radial arm pivoted to a lever, eachcollar having a cam shoe on its upper side, a walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the casing, a spring normally holding the beam in horizontal position, a sectional pin depending from the beam and having a beveled end for engagement by the cam shoes, a spring between the sections of the pin, a crank arm connected with each abutment, and a link connecting each crank arm with the adjacent end of the walking beam, said cranks being arranged to move in opposite directions when the beam is oscillated.

2. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in the casing, a rotor secured to the shaft in the casing and having oppositely arranged radial blades moving in contact with the inner surface of the casing, said casing having oppositely arranged exhaust ports and having a recess adjacent to each port, and an inlet port opening into each recess, an abutment in the recess and adapted to close the inlet port in open position and to open the port and to extend across the space between the rotor and the casing in closed position, and means connected with the shaft for simultaneously operating the abutments, said means comprising a plurality of oppositely arranged eccentrics on the shaft, a pair of levers pivoted at one end adjacent to the shaft, a collar on each eccentric having a radial arm pivoted to a lever, each collar having a cam shoe on its upper side, a walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the casing, a spring normally holding the beam in hori zontal position, a sectional pin depending from the beam and having a beveled end for engagement by the cam shoes, a spring between the sections of the pin, a crank arm connected with each abutment, and a connection between each end of the lever and the adjacent crank arm for simultaneously moving the abutments in opposite directions.

3. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a shaft j ournaled in the casing, a rotor secured to the shaft in the casing and having oppositely arranged radial blades moving in contact with the inner surface of the Gasing, said casing having oppositely arranged exhaust ports and having a recess adjacent to each port, and an inlet port opening into each recess, an abutment in the recess and adapted to close the inlet port in open position and to open the port and to extend across the space between the rotor and the casing in closed position, and means connected with the shaft for simultaneously operating the abutment, said means comprising a plurality of oppositely arranged eccentrics on the shaft, a pair of levers pivoted at one end adjacent to the shaft, a collar on each eccentric having a radial arm pivoted to a lever, each collar having a cam shoe on its upper side, a walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the casing, a spring normally holding the beam in horizontal position, a sectional pin depending from the beam and having a beveled end for engagement by the cam shoes, a spring between the sections of the pin, and a connection between each abutment and the adjacent end of the walking beam for moving the abutments in opposite directions.

1. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in the casing, a rotor secured to the shaft in the casing and having oppositely arranged radial blades moving in contact with the inner surface of the easing, said casing having oppositely arranged exhaust ports and having a recess adjacent to each port, and an inlet port opening into each recess, an abutment in the recess and adapted to close the inlet port in open position and to open the port and to extend across the space between the rotor and the casing in closed position, and means connected with the shaft for simultaneously op erating the abutments, said means comprising a plurality of oppositely arranged eccentrics on the shaft, a pair of levers pivoted at one end adjacent to the shaft, a collar on each eccentric having a radial arm pivoted to a lever, each collar having a cam shoe on its upper side, a walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the casing, a spring normally holding the beam in horizontal position, a pin depending from the beam and having a beveled end for engagement by the shoes, and a connection between each end of the beam and the adjacent abutment for moving the abutments in opposite directions.

5. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a

shaft journaled in the casing, a rotor secured to the shaft in the casing and having oppositely arranged radial blades moving in contact with the inner surface of the casing, said casing having oppositely arranged exhaust ports and having a recess adjacent to each port, and an inlet port opening into each recess, an abutment in the recess and adapted to close the inlet port in open position and to open the port and to extend across the space between the rotor and the casing in closed position, and means connected with the shaft for simultaneously operating the abutments, said means comprising a pluralityof oppositely arranged eccentrics on the shaft, a walking beam on the casing, a connection between each end of the beam and the adjacent abutment for moving the abutments in opposite directions when the beam is oscillated, a collar on each eccentric, each collar having a cam'shoe, means for holding the collars from rotation on, the shaft, and a pin depending from the beam for engagement by the shoes to oscillate the beam.

6. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in the casing, a rotor secured to the shaft in the casing and having oppositely arranged radial blades moving in contact with the inner surface of the casing, said casing having oppositely arranged exhaust ports and having a recess adjacent to each port, and an inlet port opening into each recess, an abutment in the recess and adapted to close the inlet port in open position and to open the port and to extend across the space between the rotor and the casing in closed position, and means connected with the shaft for simultaneously operating the abutments, said means comprising a plurality of oppositely arranged eccentrics on the shaft, a walking beam on the casing, a connection between each end of the beam and the adjacent abutment for moving the abutments in opposite directions when the beam is oscillated, and a pin on the beam for engagement by the eccentrics to move the beam.

GEORGE T. CUNNINGHAM. Witnesses:

C. H. BLANCHARD, W. H. SCHEEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0; 

